We are saddened to announce the passing away of Professor Sorina Popescu at the end of last year after a long battle with cancer.

Born in Romania, Sorina received a Master’s degree in biology from the University of Bucharest, a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Rutgers University in 2003, and then was a research associate at Yale University. She joined the BTI faculty in 2008, and transitioned to Mississippi State University in 2015.

In 2017 Dr. Popescu was a Visiting Professor at our Earth, Environment and Life Sciences Division of ICUB  with her work focusing on characterizing cellular pathways, how their components are activated by specific or multiple stressors and how modifications in signaling elements impact the plant’s response.

Our colleagues from the Boyce Thompson Institute (USA)  with whom we plan to foster future collaborations in order to continue Dr. Popescu’s work have set up a reflections page where those who’ve met and worked with Sorina can share their thoughts.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Popescu’s family and friends. Our hearts go out to them, in their great loss.